Spring-frame for motor-cycles.



-No. 7|6,604. Patented Dec. 23, I902. E. Y. WHITE. SPRING FRAME-FDRMOTOR CYCLES.

(Application filed May 12, 1902.) (N0 lllodelL) PIG. 2.

UNTTnn STATES ATENT @FFICE.

EDVVARD YOUNG W'HITE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

SPRING-FRAME FOR MOTOR-CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,604, dated December23, 1902.

Application filed May 12, 1902. Serial No. 107,014. (No model.)

110 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LEDWARI) YOUNG WHITE, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Frames for Motor-Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring-frames for motor-bicycles.

The object of the invention is to produce a spring-frame of comparativelightness and great strength capable of supporting a motor ofconsiderable weight and a heavy rider without undue strain on the frameor jolting of the weighty parts; and to this end the invention consistsin certain constructions and combinations of parts, substantially ashereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation, with parts in section, showingenough of the construction of my improved bicycle-frame to give ageneral idea of the construction and operation thereof. Fig. 2 is a planof the bottom member of strut and of the motor-cradle. Fig. 3 is a topplan of the top member of seatsupporting strut, showingalsodriving-pulley. Fig. 4 is a plan of the rear fork. Fig. 5 is a plan ofthe lower frame-bar. Fig. 6 shows broken elevations of the frame-barknuckle viewed in two directions.

The bicycle-wheels 1 and 2 are of any usual construction for front andrear wheels, respectively. The front fork 3 is connected tosteering-head 4 in any usual way. The steering-head t is connected by atop bar to the rear fork 5, as will be explained. The same head isconnected by brace 6 to the enginecradle 7 which cradle is branched atits rear end, and the bars 8 8 extend alongside the rear wheel and arepivoted to the strut 16. The top of the frame, which in general outlineresembles the well-known diamond frame, is divided into sections forconvenience of construction, as illustrated, although such constructionis not essential. The front piece or tube 9 extends back from thesteering-head to the coupling or socket 10, which couplingsocket 10affords a seat for the compensating spring 11, hereinafter referred to.The rear piece or tube 13 connects coupling-socket 10 to the head 1 1 ofthe rear fork 5 by a coupling-piece 20. The strut 16 is forked, and atthe rear of the pivot 17, to which bars 8 and 5 are connected, the strutaffords a bearing for the rear wheel, the axle of said wheel thusforming a direct support for the strut. The rear fork 5 has its sidebars connected by a brace 18. The upper ends of the bars enter thesocketed end of head or yoke 14 and are connected to springs 19 withinsaid socket-s, so that the rear fork is telescopically extensible andcompressible against the resistance of spring 19. As illustrated, thesprings 19 are compressed under excess of strain, so as to let the barsof fork 5 enter farther within the yoke or head 14; but the arrangementof spring and fork is not essential, so that an elastic or extensibleaction of the fork permitted. The strut 16, formed of two bars where itforms the wheel-bearing, is prolonged to the front to form a bearing 22for the usual pedal-crank, and still in front of the crank-hanger is thecradle 23, on which the weight of the engine rests. A vertical tube 26,which connects the top and bottom members of the frame, contains apiston 27, which by its rod" 28 is connected to the front end of thecradle 23. The spring 29 within tube 26 sustains the weight of the frontend of the engine-cradle and yields to permit the downward movement ofthe piston under a jolt or excess of strain. The compensating spring 11prevents rattle or unevenness of movement. Thus the strut 16 is theactual carrier of the engine and may yield quite independently of thefront fork of the frame, while the rear forks will to a slight extentonly partake of the engine movement, due to the fact that the frontpivot 17 is between the engine and the rear-wheel shaft.

The strut 16 has an upper member consisting of two bars 30 30, which arepreferably rigid with strut-bars 16. The bars 30 are connected by pivot31 to the seat-post 32 and also to the leaf 33, which embraces theengine 40. The motor-shaft 41 has any suitable connection to thedriving-wheel. The construction of the engine and driving-gear may be ofany usual form. Seat-post 32 passes through a mortise or opening 42,which is in top bar 13 or a coupling connected thereto, as shown. Theseat-post will yield with the yielding of the strut on which it issupported. Of course the openings through which the seat-post 32 and thepiston-rod 28 pass will be so formed as to permit the necessary lateralas well as vertical movement. The coupling-piece 44 receives the bottomof tubes 26 and 6 and has a hole for pin 45, to which the front end ofthe frame-bar 7 is pivoted. A screw-cap 46 in the coupling-socket 10permits access to the tube 26, and by the opening covered by this capthe spring 26 maybe removed. Piston 27 is adjustable on rod 28 by meansof a threaded connection with said rod or otherwise, as is common insimilar mechanical structures.

From the foregoing it should be understood that the engine and seat-postare supported on a strut which lies substantially within the outer barsof the frame and which strut may yield without considerably affectingthe position of the frame proper,that the frame itself yields at theconnection of top bar and rear forks, and that the supporting-springsare adjustable as to their tension.

What I claim is 1. In a frame for motor-bicycles, an enginesupportingstrut substantially Within the outer frame-bars, the rear end of thestrut resting directly on the rear axle, and an elastic support forsaidstrut connected to the frame, said strut arranged to support the engine.

2. In a frame for motor-bicycles, a vertical tube connecting the'upperand lower frame members, a strut supported at its rear by the rear axle,and a piston within the vertical tube having its piston-rod connected tosaid strut, and a spring supporting said piston.

3. In a frame for motor-bicycles, the outer frame-bars, a strutpivotally connected at its rear to said frame-bars, and an adjustablespring-support connected to the frame and the front of said strut.

4. In a spring-frame for motor-bicycles, a vertical tube having a pistontherein, a spring supporting said piston and a compensating springbearing in the other direction on said piston, and a strut pivoted tothe frame proper and connectedto said piston, all combined.

5. In a spring-frame for motor-bicycles, the top bar in sections, thefront section rigid with the front fork, the rear fork-head pivoted tothe rear section of said top bar, the rear fork extensibly connected tosaid forkhead, and a bottom frame member pivotally connected to the rearfork, and to an extension of the front fork, substantially as described.

6. In a spring-frame for motor-bicycles, the combination of the outerframe-bars having a yielding rear fork, with a generally-inclosed struton which the engine rests, said strut pivotally connected to the rearframe-bars, and having a spring connection atits front to saidframe-bars.

'7. In a frame for motor-bicycles, the combination with thegenerally-inclosing bars, of a strut having its rear end directlysupported by the axle and pivotally connected to the frame-bars in frontof said axle, a spring-support from the frame-bars supporting the frontof the strut, a cradle for the engine forming part of the strut, and theseat-post connected to the strut and free to yield therewith.

8. In a frame for motor-bicycles, the twomembered strut one memberhavinga cradle for the engine and the other member of the strut beingpivotally connected to the seatpost, said strut being pivoted near oneend to the frame proper, and being elastically supported from the frameat its other end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD YOUNG WHITE. Witnesses:

Q. ALVAN LUTER, W. A. WAGNER.

